CM: The number that shows De Ketelaere’s ‘key’ influence on Milan’s attack

Charles De Ketelaere is yet to get off the mark for AC Milan since joining in the summer, but his performances have certainly not been ineffectual. 

Calciomercato.com writes that there is naturally a bit of pressure on De Ketelaere given he was the big signing of the summer for Milan who shelled out over €30m to sign him after a long and difficult negotiation with Club Brugge.

He still has no goals – though he had one disallowed against Sampdoria which seemed a strange decision – but there are numbers in his performances that prove the Belgian is undergoing ‘continuous growth’ as Stefano Pioli said.

So far De Ketelaere has 11 key passes in the league and he has always registered at least one in each of their first seven league games. He got four against Bologna – including the assist to Leao – and then one per game.

In the game against Napoli he had a decisive and an important role in the build-up that led to Giroud’s equaliser, sliding Theo in behind with a pass. Only Sandro Tonali has more key passes with 12, but he has played much more, while Brahim Diaz who is competing for the role has four.